Ime Akpan
The rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Capt Alkali Modibbo has said that the firefighting simulator at the school would be put to use after its certification.
The rector stated this in an interview with aviation correspondents in Zaria.
He said the equipment was at the second stage was at stage 2 of the certification process and that as soon that was completed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would certify its deployment.
“The firefighting simulator is undergoing the process of certification. The NCAA is responsible for issuing the certificate and they will give us the certification when we have completed all the checklist. As soon as the second phase is completed the machine will be put to use,” Modibbo said.
On the status of the college as Regional Training Centre of Excellence (RTCE) and Approved training Organisation (ATO), Modibbo said the benefits of such recognition are enormous.
“This is an ATO and we have been having our renewal every year. We have the RTCE certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). You cannot train without renewing your ATO.
“As RTCE and ATO, we can increase training activities, for example ICAO training courses, professional courses. In 2021, we had over 50 courses in spite of the pandemic. And that will us more visibility locally and internationally,” he added.
Speaking on unemployment among pilots and engineers, the rector recommended industrialisation of the aviation sector as panacea for the problem.
“Colleges or schools are like mothers. They take in students and after a certain time they deliver students as pilots, engineers, cabin crews, controllers, etc.
“When you go out as a fully graduated person and with your certificate, you look forward to getting a job. The only way to get jobs for graduates and engineers is by having more industrialisation, having more airlines, approved training organizations around,” he said.
However, he charged pilots and engineers not to be too strict with flying or repairing aircraft saying there are opportunities elsewhere in the ministry of aviation and its agencies.
He cited the examples of the chief executives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) whom he said are aircraft pilots.
“As a pilot or an engineer, it is not necessary that you must fly or repair an aircraft. You can work in one of the agencies.
“You have some engineers heading some departments at the Accident Investigation Bureau- Nigeria (AIB-N). So, jobs are out there; pilots and engineers should not only search for jobs of flying or maintaining an aircraft. The dream of every pilot is to fly but if the job does not come, you work at NCAA as an inspector.
“So we look forward to the federal government opening opportunities for aviators. And the ministry is doing its best and I know the minister has aviators at heart and he has done so much so that the aviation sector could move to a higher level that will create opportunities for people to get jobs, especially when you have your own national carrier, even though it is not going to be 100 per cent government-owned. That will create room for more employment, more competition with the other carriers,” the rector said.
